Professional Organizations

Belonging to a professional organization may be optional while a student and mandatory
after graduation. Becoming a "professional engineer" or a "professional geologist"
or a professional land surveyor may mandate joining a state or national or international
professional organization, like the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG),
or the American Association of Geographers (AAG), or the American Congress on Surveying
and Mapping (ACSM).

Some fields require professionals to continue to build upon their education by accruing
Continuing Education (CE) units through professional development and training. These
professional organizations provide a means for professionals to network, stay on top
of developing trends, and to continue their educational efforts.

Most professional organizations offer reduced membership rates for students. There
membership typically convey all the benefits of being a full member, such as subscriptions
to magazines, or reduced rates for conferences, as well as discounts on published
materials.